The Meridional. (Abbeville, La.) 1856-1906, 1887-03-19
Ab5sville sgiAIoaal.
Iberia Parish.

Iberia parish dine,s hnt little from
81. Mary'r in lts natural character
%isrics, except in having u large pro-
portion Of its territory in prairie.
1t is bounded on the east 10y the
parish Of st. Martin, south by 81.
Mary and Ecrmllion Bay. and on
the west by the parishes Of Lafayette
and Vermilion. The Bayou Teche
flows through it, on the borders "f
which the large plantations are situ-
a,cd, much OF the land lying near
Grand Lake, and adjoining st.
Mary, is swamp, bnt on the line Of
road the t,llable land has q width Of
six miles up to New Iberia. The
soil is not heavy, and its cultivation
not difficult; its productions embrace
a large variety Of staples, fruits and
vegetables and in quantities hardly
to be found anywhere else. On the
prairie lands, which extend from
the limits of the Teche lends on tie
west out to the sea marsh. unusual
grazing facilities are offered the
lerdSnan, as the grass is rich end
succuient, and suStains stock tae
year round. These prairies, too,
grow sugar Gene, corn, cotton, rice,
Irish and sweet potatoes. and vege-
rahlcs Of all kinds, but the crops are
not % large as on the woodlands.
1t is in this parish that the full
he4u.ies Of the Teche are seen.
Winding along from below It. Mar
tinsvil!e TO New Iberia, this poetic
stream runs on its way, siiadowed
by regal oaks whose messy robes
droop INTO its waters. On its gently
slopiug banks the more fragile vii.
low skirts along, claiming its place
beside the stronger forest trees. The
valley of the Techc has been termed
not inaptly the Italy Of America.
Unlike other valleys, it is not formed
by its yissinage to the s!opin,g base
Of opposite mountains, leaving but a
narrow channel for the passage Of a
stream. The lands Of the Tcche, bor-
dering the bayou from which this
valley takes its mare, from q gently
declining area to its waters, form q
rising elevation tia: can hardly
,ciaim the dignity Of mountain The
grassy shores Of the BACON are
shaded with every variety OF forest
trees which, in many places, dip
their branches into the water. The
streams Of the bayou are as clear as
crystal. abound with fish. and seem
the favorite resort of both inland
and sea-going birds, which may be
seen skimming over their surface at
all hours OF the day. Its sioping
lawns, dotted every few miles with
pretty draw bridges facilitating
neigii5orly intercourse, gives 1t &
quiet domestic atmosphere. The
prairies of the Teche are inexplessi-
ebly beautiful. and form ore Of the
most pleasing features CT the scenery.
When the south wind moves over
the fields of tai! rank grasses which
cover their undnlating surface they
resemble the pillows of some vast
INLAND lake. These Wairies are sit
.nated west Of Bayou Teche and
south OF Bayou Crocodile. Ia The
south they are limited by an impas
sable sea of marsh, and ia the west
by the Ca'casieu and Sabine. The
prairles OF The State embrace up
wards Of two million five hundred
thousand acres. Owing to the rich
ness Of its soil and It's wonderful
-adaptability to the culture of cane
this district is also known as tn
@sugar-bowl" Of the United States.
There arc not so many large suga
houses and rciineries to be see
here, but what is better, the land
divided up into smaller estates an
the population is thicker. In til
ncighborhood Of .Icancrette, and b.
tween that place and Ahbcyill
there arc lands that can be ha
which for richness OF soil can not I
excelicd on this continent. The
are deep and jnc1hanstihlc. Sma
farms have been made by dividi,
Former large plantations, Of fro
thirty to sixty acres, and there a
several more in the market no,
The land owners are willing TO sc
at low rates TO permanent settle,